The problem
Water had been getting into the floor of a Kirkstall bathroom for long enough to do serious damage. When we lifted the floor on the first day, it was clear the leak had not just stained the timber — it had rotted the joists and the boards above them. The subfloor had no structural integrity left. Behind the tiles on one wall, the timber substrate was black with mould. This was not a job that could be patched; the floor needed to come out and be rebuilt properly before anything else could go back in.
What we did
Day 1 — Strip-out and assessment
We cleared the bathroom and lifted the floor to get a proper look at the extent of the damage. The lath-and-plaster wall construction had also taken water, and we broke away the affected sections to expose what was underneath. Once we could see the full picture, we picked up the materials needed for the following day so there would be no delays.
Day 2 — Structural floor repair
The rotten joists were cut out and new ones fitted in their place, bringing the floor frame back to a sound, load-bearing condition. We then laid chipboard over the joists and a layer of ply on top of that, giving a solid, level base for the finished floor. The subfloor was done properly — no shortcuts that would cause problems further down the line.
Day 3 — Pipework and bathroom refit
With the floor solid, we replaced the hot and cold water pipes serving the toilet, sink, bath and shower. The old pipework had been in place a long time and, given what the leak had already caused, renewing it all was the right call. We then built the stud wall, set the bath in position and fitted it in place. The shower valve was fitted and the wall tiling was taken to the point where the next trade could finish the surface work.
Day 4 — Checks and close-out
Final checks, photographs and video recorded throughout the job for the client's records.
The result
A bathroom that had been unsafe to use is now structurally sound from the joists up. The pipework is new, the floor is solid and the refit is complete. The work was finished in four days without the job dragging on.
Thinking about something similar?
If you have a bathroom floor that feels soft underfoot, tiles that have started to lift, or you know there has been a leak, it is worth getting it looked at before the damage spreads further. Send us a few photos or a short video on WhatsApp and we will give you a straightforward assessment and a free quote.
